THE PRINCE INDIA

Hokitika Guardian, 17 December 1921, Page 4

THE PRINCE IND IA

ARABIAN NIGHTS’ SCENES. j SPLENDOUR OK THE ORIENT. The following despatches, descriptive of the Prince of Wales’s tour in India arc contributed by Sir Herbert Russell, the special correspondent ol Reuter’s Agency. BA ROD A, Nov. 23 To-day the Prince of Wales had his first experience of the splendour and hospitality of the Indian native States. Itaroda looked cool amid its profusion of foliage, for nil the tingling sunglare ils the train pulled up. The town and station were lavishly decorated. It was a great scene of Oriental britlianoe as the Prince stepped out of his caniage, t„ the thunder of a native battery, to bo greeted by the Maharaja and his shining retinue. Entering the State barouche, seintillant with gold and jewels, the Prince, with the Gaekwar, drove slowly through the town. The sound of tomtoms and shrill pipes mingled with the running roar ol cheer-

Near the Nvaya Mandar. the lamous .odd and silver guns, and the silver carnages with their richly caparisoned horses, wore arrayed, together with six colossal elephants bearing gilded and silver thrones. The Prime was much interested in these magnificent beasts, |.I, wore camouflaged into dazzling shapes, one hearing a great tiger’s head painted on his forehead. Passing through the luxuriant

grounds of the Laxmi Palace, rcinmis rent of Versailles Gardens, the IVlllci alighted and inspected the guard o honour, composed of the 9>th ! ntunti v T;anslated, the name of the palae means “beauty and weal ill,” and re 1

fully does it realise this description. The durbar hall, with its goldspmi earpot, marble and leak walls, and rows of statuesque guards, presented a deeply impressive scene. DISPLAY OK PRICELESS JEWELS. The dm bar at the Laxmi Palme, ('(instituting a Slate visil by the (.acinar to the Prince, the Prince relumed it hr attending a durbar in the Nazar Hog Palace half-an-hour later. The Malmraja, meeting the Prince of Wales at the door, conducted him to a gold tin-one on the right of his own seat, behind which was ranged a line group ol State lutzuras, with niorclials and ehowries. Alter a short conversation, followed by the presentation of .Ministers, sardars, and ofiieers, wiio otleied tribute of moliurs, the Gaekwar garlanded the Prince, presenting hint with a bouquet, rosewater, attar ol roses, and palm oil. The Maharaja then invited the royal guest to inspect the jewellery which had I,ecu specially nrranged for the purpose, and termed a display literally materialising wealth l.ovond the dreams of avarice.

The ceremonies at the palaces were rendered deeply impressive by the stately dignity of it all. amid environments of a grandeur no words can reproduce. The wide and well-kept -Heels of Rarnda, teeming with variegated crowds throughout the day—which was a general holiday— were animated by inarching troops and hands blaring forth very up-to-date music, tomtoms 1 icing especially [kjpulai. Great dislike was manifested by the horses of the cavalry lining the routes for the elephants tramping in dignified unconcern betwixt their cavorting ranks.

KLKI’II ANTS WITH HOLDEN HOUDAHS. UDAIPUR, November 25. The Prince of Wales arrived at I’daipur this morning, alter a li hours journey ucioss Maharastrn through a wonderful ring of hills and under the ancient Dehnri Hate spanning the railway. The uiifurlunto indisposition of the Alaharana rendering it. impossible for him to leave his palace, necessitated a modification of the original programme. Tlie Prince was met on his arrival by the Mnharana’s oldest son, Prince Bhopal Singh, of lledla, and 12 Aleewar Sardars. whose high rank was shown by their golden anklets, and biiiovrci! shields svmhohsiiig tl-eir descent from f be sun. Alighting from the train the Prince inspected a guard of honour of scarlet Sepoys of Shambha Pa I tail, and then entered a resplendent State barouche with Ihrinoe Bhupal. The route to the British Residency, where the Prince was to stay, led |iast blue lagoons set amid lofty, jagged hills, and was lined hrv guards of the Mewar Bliil Corps, mounted kettle drummers at frequent intervals rounding rataplans. Heavily bejewelled elephants, with golden howdahs, were placed at the disposal of the Prince and his staff. Dense crowds, palpitating with garish colours, were mussed all the wav from the station to the hoary rity walls, but unlike previous experiences, there was no cheering but an intense babble, manifesting great interest and satisfaction. At the Suraj Pol (late the lloyal Pro-ces-hm was met hv a gorgeous medley of State police, elephants and cavalry Jagirdnr contingents and bands of tomtom. SCENES OF FA PRY-TYKE ENCHANTMENT. UDAIPUR., November 27. The Prince’s visit to Udaipur has been largely in the nature of a rest owing to the modification of the official programme. The Prince tramped ten miles snipe shooting, on Saturday alternoon, astonishing the Rajputs with his energy. He was much amused at the wild Rhil pipe and drum band which serenaded him at the Residency. His suite organised a big game shooting among the surrounding hills, which swarm with wild hoar, cheetahs and buck.

The Prince’s procession to tlie Malm- j rana’s palace on Friday night was a , scene of fairy-like enchantment. Pi- ; ehola Lake is a great artificial lagoon j dotted with islifhds and encircled by , bare, jagged bills, crowned with watch ! towers built in the days of the Mogul invasion. The inlands mostly bear stately pleasure domes and palaces, which rise in lofty white proportions sheer out of the water. The whole had j been transformed into a tracery of lam- ( bent fire by myriods of lights. Shrines j temples, colonnades, and minarets were j silhouetted in shimmering outlines, j finding a sparkling reflection in the j glass-smooth lake. | The Prince embarked in a motor- j j |(lunch and proceeded slowly down this | j exquisite panorama of soft golden light | to Snrup Sugar Ghat, close under the , i pallid mass of the palace zenna. Step ! .ping ashore, be took his seat in <i | “Tomjon,” a species of palanquin, but i without a roof. This was raised shoul- , der high )«v bearers and curried to the i palace entrance, surrounded by torclij bearers in lurid red costumes. ! The venerable-looking Mabarana, ali though so ill that he lias fainted sove- | ral times in the last few days, manj aged to meet the Prince in the rocepI tion hall, withdrawing as the guests ! entered to the banqueting hall. Satj urday the Prince spent quietly, j The unmistakable impression which • one gets in moving about the people ! is that they are suffering considerable j poverty and hope that the Prince’s i visit may be the harbinger of better ! times.